Almost done with nursing school..but......

[RedXIII_]

I have a sleeve tattoo haha and it's kinda worrying me. I don't regret the tat at all, i love it. Anyways, has anyone had any problems with employment because of tattoos? or do any of you have visible tattoos and was still able to get a job? I have a lower sleeve tat. it's a koi fish :) It's kind of like this one, but mine is from the elbow down to the wrist.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3167/3355525157_46c8c16c3c.jpg

Do you guys think I'll have trouble? No one has said anything in school (professors or nurses in the hospitals). I'm on my last 2 semesters and no one seems to care, so that made me happy.

[RKpianoman, APRN]

Some of the hospitals here, in MS, are strict about tats and piercings. At the hospital I'm doing my externship with, you'd have to keep it covered with a long-sleeved shirt. My preceptor has a script tattoo on the back of her neck and has to cover it with a bandage when the big-wigs come on the unit.

[RedXIII_]

Hmm..so maybe it should just be something I should hide from the beginning? I guess a long sleeve under the scrubs will have to do. Hopefully they aren't too strict about it.

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

You'll have to familiarize yourself with the dress code of the facility you wish to be employed at. I happen to work in a very progressive part of the country, and even in the Catholic hospital where I work, staff members from nursing to housekeeping have facial piercings, gauged ears, visible tats, colored hair, dreadlocks, etc. It's more how you groom yourself, if you're clean and don't stink, and if your clothing and footwear are professional in appearance and in good repair that matter.

[Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN]

Nice name REDXIII ala FFVII reference... I work in the ED have seen many nurses with sleeves and management seems to not mind. I think it depends on the patient population and the unit you will be working in.

[sameyjaney]

I have a friend with sleeves who got a job very quickly right out of nursing school. I have co-workers on my unit with sleeves as well. However, they never show them at work. They always wear long sleeves. When I was hired I was told that showing tattoos was against the dress code policy and if I had any I should keep them covered.

[Crux1024]

I also have to agree with what was said above. Familiarize yourself with the facilities' dress code. Some care, some dont.

[Turd Ferguson]

I also have to agree with what was said above. Familiarize yourself with the facilities' dress code. Some care, some dont.

To add to this, a tattoo should not be any reason for an employer to discriminate against you during the hiring process. If they inform you that you need to cover it, just smile and say "not a problem".

[chicookie, BSN, RN]

I don't think it should be an issue. Its easy to cover, and on some floors I have been on no one really cares. When in doubt just cover it just in case and when you are sure that it is acceptable then you show it.

If that is the case then it also kind of depends if you are comfortable showing it or not. Even though I know in the ED it is permissible, there is one nurse who does not show his because he said he doesn't want to make anyone uncomfortable. (O_o I wonder what his tat is...........)

[raskol]

I have a large caduceus tattoo that goes from my wrist to elbow. In nursing school during clinicals, I ALWAYS had it covered. I wore a tattoo sleeve cover (tat2x.com). Because I was a student, I didn't want to risk accidently pulling my sleeves up and exposing it. More often than not my patients and the staff wanted to see it and though it was a silly thing to cover. However, I wanted to stay professional.

My past jobs (float aid at level one trauma center, and EMT on a national ambulance service) did not care about my tattoo exposed and I only covered it if I was cold (aka wore long sleeve shirt).

I am just starting my new nursing job. I didn't show my tattoo during my interview and made sure I reviewed the dress code. I plan on making my good impression and stay professional with undershirts and a tat sleeve. However, they seem to have a very STRICT dress code. You can't even wear colored shoes. I did disclose the tattoo during my physical because who cares and I wore a tshirt so it was obvious. But I'm not going to panic if I pull up my sleeves up and expose the end of it.

Yay tattoos!

B

[Katalina]

I used to work with a nurse that had a lot of tattoos. One was a sleeve. Nobody said anything. She was cool because she was like Rock star nurse!

[lrobinson5]

I remember reading in another thread someone recommending a product that is similar to concealer, that completely covers a tattoo. I can't remember what it is called, but it seems that there are many tattoo cover-ups from what I've seen on google.